8-pointer and a Doe!!

Michael is very proud of the deer he shot on Wednesday morning.  I told him I would post some pictures.  He had an exciting morning that day and ended up shooting a doe and an 8 pointer!  I know some of you may not be into hunting but for our family, it is a big deal!  If it is important to one of us, it is important to all of us!   He has been waiting on a deer like this for years and he finally got it!  Congratulations Michael!

The kids were very excited!

My Thankful List!

1.   I am thankful for my beautiful, healthy family.  I have the most amazing family and I love to be with them.  I know our work schedules keep us apart some but when we are all together I am my happiest!
2.   I am thankful for my parents who raised me in a christian home.  When I was a teenager, I thought they were too strict but now as an adult I am thankful.  They kept me from alot of temptations that I wasn't old enough to handle.
3.   I am thankful for my brothers.  We love to pick on each other and give each other a hard time but we love to spend time together.  I am also thankful my little brother, Tyler, got his acceptance letter into college on his birthday!
4.   I am thankful for my in-laws.  My mother-in-law helps me out alot.  Her husband is awaiting a kidney and pancreas transplant but she tries to help with the kids whenever she is available.  I am thankful for Michael's brother, Robert's family.  He and his wife Dana are very special and have blessed us with 3 nieces and 1 nephew who are precious to us.
5.   I am thankful for my soon to be sister-in-law, Nikki.  She is like the sister I never had.  I am so excited for her to officially be a part of the family.
6.   I am thankful for all my friends who support me in so many ways.  They will never know the impact they have made in my life.
7.  I am thankful for mine and Michael's jobs.  The Lord provides for us greatly and we are so appreciative.
8.  I am thankful for our home and the land the Lord has blessed us with.  We are not wealthy but we have been sooo blessed by the Lord.
9.  I am thankful for my kid's schools.  E loves her school and does great!  She is reading 2 or 3 grade levels above her own.  M loves his school and is learning so much to where when he starts kindergarten he will be well advanced for his age.  I am thankful for their teachers also.  They are both loving women and they love my children and that means the world to me.
10.  I am thankful for my church.  Michael and I changed to a different church about 2 years ago and it was one of the hardest decisions we have ever made.  It was also one of the best ones!  Our pastors are the greatest and I have grown to love the people and have made some awesome friendships.

God has blessed us so much!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

It's Hard to Believe!

Tyler and E swimming this summer.

Today is my little brother, Tyler's, 18th birthday!  I can't believe he has gotten that old.  I was 15 when he was born.  Actually, rumor has it that my mom took me on my birthday to get my driving permit and I guess my driving caused her to go into labor 2 weeks early.  Not really but it kind of makes you think?!

Tyler was born the day after my 15th birthday and we have celebrated our birthdays as a family together ever since.  Tyler is a super guy!  He is smart, outgoing and pretty handsome if I must say myself.  We are all very proud of him.  He jokes and says he is the perfect child that is fulfilling everyone's dreams.  He jokes but he is doing a great job!  I do know that when he leaves for college next year it is going to be hard on all of us.  He has brought so much joy to our family and not to be able to have him here all the time will be different but I know he will do great and be successful in anything he does.  Hope you have a great day Tyler!  We all love you so much!

Today is the Day!

I have to say that today is MY birthday!!!! I am a kid at heart and love to celebrate my birthday.  Who doesn't?  No real big celebration, just going to hang out with my family tonight.  I think we are going to a new restaurant in town and going shopping!  Yay!  The girls at work got me a cake and several family and friends have called or texted their happy birthday wishes.  They are the best!  Going to celebrate more over the weekend.  Like I said last week, I like to stretch it out and celebrate for a week or more! Why not!  You only turn 33 once!

Happy Anniversary Babe!

Today, Michael and I are celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary!  It has been a great 13 years.  We were just kids when we got married.  We have been blessed so much by the Lord and are so thankful for our He has blessed us!

Michael,

I love you!  It is so hard to believe it has been 13 years!  I know I can drive you crazy sometimes but thanks for always being there for me and our family.  Thank you for being such a hard working provider for our family.  I know sometimes I complain because of your crazy schedule but I am so thankful for how hard you work to provide for us.  Thank you for being the wonderful father to our children that you are.  You have taught me so much in our marriage.  You have taught me not to fear and to trust in the Lord!  You are my best friend! I love spending time with you!  I love you so much! Happy Anniversary Babe!

Celebration Time!

This coming Friday is my birthday but I started celebrating this weekend.  Why not!  Michael was working this weekend so me and the kids went out with my mother-in-law on Friday to eat a very good meal at Carraba's Yummy!  Then we went shopping and ended the night at Krispy Kreme!

Saturday, E had a birthday party to attend during the day but that night I had a girls night planned with some of my friends at church!  We ate good and had a great time.  They were so sweet to get me and Liz a giant birthday cookie to celebrate both of our birthdays.  I am not sure what happened but while we were having a great time at a friends home I started feeling like a cotton mouth and my mouth and throat were hurting.  I thought at first it was my sinuses until I noticed the whelps coming up on my legs.  I obviously had an allergic reaction to something I came in contact with.  Not sure what, but it scared me.  The girls gave me some medicine and sent me home.  Fortunately it calmed down but I have felt pretty lousy all day today.  At least it is over with.  Thank you to all my friends who were there with me on Saturday night.  I had a great time!  Thank you so much for making me a part of your fellowship.  It means alot!  I love you all!

Of course, I will celebrate this whole week too!  Tomorrow is a very special day!

Hold Them Close...

I have been a little emotional the last several days.  I don't know any of these people personally but I grieve for them.  There have been people that I know that personally know these people and so I guess I see their hurt and hurt for them.  A week and a  half ago, a little 4 year old in our area fell over at daycare from an aneurism(not sure how to spell) or blood clot in his brain. He died the next day.  It was sudden and unexpected. One of my friends sons is in the same daycare.  Then on Sunday, a young man in our area fell over dead from a heart condition leaving behind an 8 year old and 4 year old.  This man is a member of the church that M's teacher is the pastors wife of.  I didn't know till today that very same man also sat beside of my brother everyday at work.  Small world.  But this has truly made me re-examine by life.  Do I show love to my children like I should?  Do I tell everyone what they mean to me?  I think we are so busy trying to get from Point A to Point B all the time and in a rush that we sometimes miss the mark.  Maybe it is just me but I take my family and friends for granted at times.  You never know what may happen but we need to live every moment like it could be our last.  I know this isn't a subject people like to talk about but it is reality.  I know that I will hold on a little longer and a little tighter and make sure every moment counts.  I want to make sure that everyone in my life knows that they are important to me.  During this month of Thanksgiving, we should all look at our lives and realize how blessed we are.  It isn't the things in our lives but the people in our lives!  Love to you all!

Happy Birthday E!

Happy Birthday E!  It is so hard to believe you are 8 years old now!  You are such a beautiful little girl, inside and out.  You are so caring for others and love your family dearly.  I love you so much!  I hope you know that you are so precious to us all!  I know you are excited that you don't have to ride in a booster seat anymore.  I don't know if I am ready for that yet.  I would like to keep you little as long as I can.  Have a great day today! Share all those good cookies with your friends! I know we celebrated as a family because of daddy's work schedule the other night but there are more surprises to come!  You also have an exciting weekend planned.  Your friend A is coming over to spend the night Friday and we are going to get nails done and are going to have lots of fun!  Enjoy your day!  I love you!

Love,
Mommy

A Whole Lot Of Stuff!

I haven't blogged lately because I am just soo busy.  I did though want to show you my little trick or treaters!  We had a fall festival at E's school on Saturday and after that I took the kids trick or treating just to their grandparents houses.  With Halloween on a Sunday, we decided to go out on Saturday because we wanted to be at church on Sunday night.

Dorothy and Buzz Lightyear

There has been alot going on.  My uncle found out Friday that he has stage 4 prostate cancer.  He has some other scans this week to see if that is the only place it is at.  We are praying that is it and that his cancer can be treated.  Please keep him in your prayers!

My sweet E is getting ready to turn 8.  So hard to believe!  Her actual birthday is Thursday but because of Michael's work schedule we celebrated her birthday tonight as a family.  We had her favorite for supper - Steak!  She has expensive taste!  We also had a giant cookie cake!  Yum!  She got her presents from us but I know there will be more from others later in the week and I think her daddy has a surprise for her.  Lots planned for the weekend!  Will post more soon!